Smoky (Olympic mascot)

Smoky (1931 or 1932 – April 1934), occasionally spelled Smokey, was a dog who became the mascot of the 1932 Summer Olympic Village and later the event as a whole. He is often considered the first Olympic mascot.

Smoky appeared early on in the construction of the Olympic Village, with some sources claiming he was born on the same day that work on the Village began on 2 January 1932. He was a small black dog of uncertain ancestry, believed to be a combination of Scottish terrier, bulldog, Australian sheep dog along with other breeds. He became extremely popular with all visiting Olympic delegations. He survived a couple of broken legs. He posed with athletes from all nations and was given a blanket on which were pinned medals, pins and badges of many nations. Smoky briefly went missing on 14 July, with it claimed that "noted athletes from all over the world mourn his absence". However, he returned the next day.

After the games Smoky was adopted by Cynthia and Clark Smith and became a family pet. In April 1934 he was run over and killed by an unknown speeding motorist.